Heart-wrenching story of British soccer team gets pick of the week

Nancy Adamson

Published 6:16 am, Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Pick of the week: "UNITED" (PG-13) Engrossing drama tells the story of the 1958 Manchester United soccer team, a group of young men whose speed and agility could have led them to countless world titles. Sadly, many were killed in a plane crash shortly after takeoff following a match in Munich. The film opens with a stunning scene of a young man bleeding from a nasty gash in his head, still buckled in his plane seat and sitting next to a dead teammate in the middle of a snowstorm. This poignant tale avoids sentimental treatment to score pick of the week. A

"ACT OF VALOR" (R) Real Navy SEALS star in this film about actual missions. These guys are heroes. Of that, there is no question. They actually aren't bad actors, either. The first mission shows the re-enactment of a harrowing rescue attempt of a CIA agent. All the scenarios are re-enactments. All have the full support and endorsement of the U.S. Navy, which also means the film crew had access to all the cool weapons and gear these guys use. But, and there is an unfortunate but, there comes a point where everything looks like you're simply watching someone play "Call of Duty." The missions run together — there is no cohesion. It's the best recruitment film since "Top Gun." Too bad it doesn't have the story to fill in the gaps between the gunfights. C+

"DAWN RIDER" (R) Christian Slater stars as a gunfighter with a possibly undeserved reputation who returns to his hometown to make amends with his father, who is murdered shortly after his son's return. This remake of a remake of a remake starred John Wayne in its most famous version, from 1935, yet I doubt some of the most ardent Wayne fans have seen it (prices for a used copy start at a penny at Amazon.com) or count it among their favorites from the Duke. This remake may have the same fate, though I seriously doubt it will be available for even a penny almost 80 years from now. If this version has any redeeming qualities, it is the brief but memorable performance by Donald Sutherland. C

"HATFIELDS & MCCOYS" (unrated) Billed as the most historically accurate telling of America's most famous family feud, Kevin Costner and Bill Paxton star as the patriarchs of the neighbors who were willing to fight to the death to preserve their clan's honor. If you missed the three-night extravaganza on the History Channel or any of its exhaustive — the DVD and Blu-ray will be released July 31 — you still can catch it via Video on Demand, where you can fast-forward through the ads and trim it sown to a mere 360 minutes. And therein lies the problem. As accurate — and as sometimes fascinating — as it can be, the runtime is intimidating. It also is profoundly lagging at times. For the most part though, thanks to its dialogue and performances, it is worth watching. B

"HATFIELDS AND MCCOYS: BAD BLOOD" (PG-13) On the other hand, there is this version of the dueling broods conveniently released on DVD at about the same time as the History Channel version aired. This adaptation lacks the star power — save for Jeff Fahey and Christian Slater, who plays neither a Hatfield or McCoy — and may lack the historical accuracy of its star-studded counterpart. On the plus side, you can watch Perry King dust off his Southern accent, which he hasn't used much since his movie career-killing performance in 1985's atrocious "Mandingo." Plus, this version gets all the major, Yankee-killing, pig-stealing plot points right and does it in about 90 minutes. B-

"JOHN CARTER" (PG-13) A Civil War veteran is transported to Mars, where his ability to jump really high and far is coveted by the warring beings that inhabit the planet. The film was adapted from a series of short stories by Edgar Rice Burroughs — the creator of Tarzan — decades before we really knew what Mars looked like up close, so the premise asks for a massive suspension of belief. It seems pretty clear from its dismal box office returns and extraordinarily early appearance on DVD that most moviegoers weren't willing to make that sacrifice. The effects and CGI are pretty spectacular, but are they worth wading through a convoluted, wacky story? No. C+

"JUNKYARD DOG" (R) Slightly above-average torture porn centers around a serial killer who runs a wrecking yard, where he kidnaps women and imprisons them in an underground room in which they are repeatedly raped and forced to cook him meals consisting of his former victims. What an uncanny time for a movie like this to hit the streets just as the country is spellbound by the recent "zombie" attacks allegedly caused by the synthetic drug known as bath salts. Although the film is allegedly based on real events, there is no correlation; this guy's just a psycho, but it is a bit unsettling. Regardless, the film won't win any acting awards and the story contains too many predictable elements, but fans of the genre might appreciate its plot — and its timing. B-

"A LITTLE BIT OF HEAVEN" (PG-13) Kate Hudson plays a woman diagnosed with terminal cancer who gets a new perspective on her life. Whether by mistake or special arrangement, this title was not scheduled for release until June 12 but found its way into many Redbox locations and I seized the opportunity. Considering the plot, it is not the raucus comedy one expects from Hudson, but it is her best in a long time. That's partly because she has not had the best of luck in finding a verhicle suited to her talent. This movie still doesn't live up to her potential, but there are nice moments — watch for Peter Dinklage in the movie's funniest scene — and a few Kleenex-grabbing scenes that make it worthwhile. B-

"MACHINE GUN PREACHER" (R) Gerard Butler plays Sam Childers, the real-life Pennsylvanian inmate-turned-preacher who uses somewhat questionable methods to fight the brutality in Sudan. Although this film has one of the most unfortunate titles is film history — it sounds like some sort of 1970s grindhouse exploitation movies — the story is a sincere attempt to tell the story of a man who's helped bring stability to countless children in that war-ravaged part of the world. Funny, dramatic and loaded with heart, one of the most uplifting films of the year. B+

"SAFE HOUSE" (R) A rogue CIA agent falls into the care of an inexperienced agent, who must defy all odds to keep the felonious traitor alive. Because it always is such a pleasure to watch Denzel Washington play an unsavory character, it's hard to be objective. But this movie has some flaws: Washington's character should be a complete scumbag, yet he is given some empathetic qualities. Ryan Reynolds doesn't take his shirt off. Big mistake. Still, an effective action film that should keep you placated until "The Bourne Legacy" hits theaters. B

"TITANIC" (unrated) The 100th anniversary miniseries originally shown on ABC in April is now available on DVD and Blu-ray, Written by Julian Fellowes, the man behind the much-adored "Downton Abbey" series, this version of history's most famous maritime disaster may not match up to James Cameron's masterpiece, but it is a solid show. Each of the four episodes within the series takes a look at some of the passengers and crew from different angles. It is when they overlap that the show is at its finest. Each episode ends with the boat beginning its descent into the cold, murky waters so it's not all saved up for the finale. There are too many characters to truly become vested in all, but the stories of some — notably the budding romance between Paolo the server and Annie the maid — do enough to sell the show. B